Wick type vaporizer



Patented Sept. 2, 1952 v, UNITED STATES PAT ENT "OFFICE WICKTYPE vimmzssDelbert S. Raleigh, Reno; News Application Jtne6,1950,srsiso. 166,461 17 Claims. (Cl. 299-20) This invention relates to a vaporizer of the wicktype. It may be used for the controlled evaporation of disinfectants anddeodorizers into the surrounding atmosphere to purify the air.

The wick type of vaporizer that has recently become popular has broughtwith it several problems. For one thing the containers have tended tofall overtoo easily and have spilled the fluid onto furniture, rugs,etc. The fluid has also been spilled when the wicks have been pulled outtoo far. Furthermore, the containers themselves have been relativelyunattractive, and their advertising matter and labels have made themunsightly.

The present invention provides an attractive, refillable vaporizer thatmay be used with any of the well-known fluid deodorants anddisinfectants now on the market. It includes a hollow, open-topcontainer, and a hollow open-bottom piston member that fits into theopen upper end of the container to close the container. The wick issupported over the outer wall surface of the piston member, preferablybeing secured to the upper end thereof just below the top. The lower endof the wick is secured to the bottom of the interiorof the hollowcontainer base. The thickness of the wick is such that it fills thespace between the walls of the telescoping members. Since the wick fitssnugly within the container, it will hold itself and the piston memberat any desired height to expose as much wick as is necessary to dispensethe volatile liquid at the desired rate,

The invention will be better understood from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment. It will be understood that theremay be changes in shape, materials, and elements which will still fallwithin the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thedescription and the drawings are presented in accordance with UnitedStates Revised Statutes,

section 4888, and are illustrative of the invention, not definitive ofit.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a vaporizer embodying the principlesof the invention, the wick being shown in an intermediate dispensingposition.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation and partly in section of the vaporizer ofFig. 1, showing it in its closed inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation and in section showing the vaporizer inits fully extendedposition'when it is disseminating the vapor into theatmosphere at the maximum rate and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of thevaporizer with the cap in position so that the air and filler openingtherethrough is closed.

The vaporizer shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is cylindrical, and this is thepreferred shape. However,

it may be made in various other shapes. if desired. For examp1e,it maybe elliptical or square as seen in cross section.

The lower or base member of the vaporizer is a hollowopen-topped, walledcylindrical container I having a flanged base II. The container II)supports the device and its wide bas keeps it from being knocked overaccidentally. The inner wall I2 of the container I0 is preferablycylindrical and provides a chamber I3 that holds the volatile liquid.

A ring I4 may be cemented or otherwise formed at the bottom I5 of thechamber I3. The lower end I3 of a wick is cemented or otherwise se--cured adjacent to the lower end I5 of the cham-- ber I3, being shownhere as held between the; ring I 4 and container wall I2. The lowerpor-- tion 2I of the wick 20 preferably comprises a plurality ofvertical threads, without any cross; threads, so that it consumes lessspace. The up per portion 22 of the wick 20 is woven with horizontalcross threads, as well as the vertical. threads, and its upper end 23 issecured by ce-- ment or otherwise to the upper end 24 of a cylin--drical piston 25 between the piston and an outerring 26.

The cylindrical piston 25 supports the wick 23: on its outer wallsurface 21, the clearance be-- tween the wall 21 and the wall I2 of thecontainer being approxmately the thickness of the? wick 26, so that whenthe piston 25 is raised or lowered to expose more or less of the wick20, the friction present will support th piston at whatever height it ismoved to. The wick 20 secured at both ends I9 and 23 and is longerbetween these points than the vertical length of the wall l2 and isshorter than the combined vertical lengths of the wall I2 and wall 21 sothat the top member cannot be pulled all the way out of the containerID. The piston 25 is hollow and has a relatively thin wall so as not tocut down on the liquid capacity of the base It? or to interfere with thelower end ZI of the wick 20folding in when the dispenser is closed, asin Fig. 2.

At the upper end 24 of the top member 25 a; It is illustrated as a lowercap: The lower cap may be made integrally with or cemented to thepiston:

valve is provided. 30 and an upper cap 3I.

are provided through the caps 30 and 3! respectively. The openings 35,36 preferably are the same size and lie at the same radial position sothey may be aligned and disaligned by turning the upper cap 3|. Whendisaligned, they close the vaporizer and prevent evaporation.

All the parts except the wick may be made from well-known present dayplastic materials. The plastic used for the case may be transparent toshow the height of the liquid or it may be opaque to conceal the liquidand the interior of the device. The utility of such a vaporizer as thatillustrated makes it suitable for use in an ofiice, or for a livingroom.

The wick may be woven in the round or it may be seamed together inform atubular ele'- ment. The-cross threads may-be removed-for the lowerportion 2|, or the wick 20 may be woven without any threads for thatportion.

When thedevice is not in use, the piston will beinits lowest position,as shown in Fig. 2, and the upper part 22 of the wick" 20 will restbetween the pistonswall- 26- and the. container wall l2; The verticalthreads of the lower part 2i of the wick ZD-Will fold inside the hollowpiston chamber 28. The upper cap 3i will normally be turned to theclosed position shown in Figs. 3 and-4, with the holes and 36 out ofalignment to keep the volatile liquid from evaporating.

When it is desired to dispense some ofthe deodorant or disinfectantinto-the room, the cap 3| is turnedsdthat the valve openings 35 and 36are aligned, asshown in Fig 2. Then the cap30 is lifteduntil' the-wick.20' and DistOn-ZS' are pulled up as high as desired. (which may bepartof the way upas in Fig.1, or all the way: up as in Fig. 3) The cap 31 isagain turneditodisalign'the holes 35 and Eliasshown in Figs. 3; and 4.The-snug fit of, the wick 20,. backed up by thezpiston l5, will hold itin this position and the closing of the' air column by disaligning ofthe holes 35 and. alsov helps it remain fixed. When theair has: beenpurified the. cap. 31 is, again. turned to align the. holes 3.5'and- 3B;the piston 251 and iwick '20 areithen depressedhy-pushing down on; thecapr3l, and after the; container. is. closed'the holes 3.5. and 36 areagain disaligned;

I claim:

1. Awick=type vaporizer. havinga hoilowopentopped; walled. base -member;a. hollow open-bots tomedwalled; top: member: loosely fitted; to.telescope within; said base member; a tubular: wick fitted between thewalls of said telescopedmernbers, securedat its upper end to.said-.top'member:

and at its lower end to saidbase. member, said wickbetween itslsecuredends being; longer: than the vertical walllength of, said topmembenandishorter than the: combined vertical wall lengths: of said base and Saidtop members, wherebywhen said base and top members are verticallyextended said wicl; will limit their relative movement, and

when said-members are te1escoped',.the*surplus* length of wick, will .beaccommodated:withinrsaid hollowmembers;

2.; The-devicemfzclaim l in: which thereais a.

valve-in said-;top.member to' allow-free fiow oi: fluids-intoror'out ofthe chamber formed bysaid:

telescoped baseiand top; members. 7

3..- Aavaporizerof: the wick type including; in

combination a hollow container having-a support--- ing base and an openupper end; a-hol1owpiston member of the same exteriorishape asthe.intothe lower end of said container near said base member; and a closuremember secured to the upper end of said piston member.

4. The vaporizer of claim 3 in which only the vertical threads of thewick extend below the piston member.

5. A vaporizer of the wick type including in combination a hollowcontainer having a supportingbase and an open upper end; a hollow pistonmember of the" same exterior shape as the interior shape of saidcontainer, adapted toslide up and down within said containerwitliclearance between their respective walls; a wick of a thicknessapproximately equal to" said clearance, embracing said piston member andsecuredto said piston at its upper end, and extending down below thelower end of said piston into said container; and a closure membercomprising two cap portions', pivotallysecuredto each other; said capshaving vertical openings thereth'rough lying the same radial distancefrom the center so that said openings may be aligned or disaligned.

6. A wick-type vaporizer'havin'g'a hollow opentopped walled base member;aholloWopen-bottomed walled top member looselyfitted to telescope withinsaid base member; a tubular wick fitted-between the wallsofsaid't'elescoped members and-thick enough to hold them without; slippingin-anyrelative location in which they are positioned untili they arerepositioned, said wick being secured at its upper end tosaid topmember, said wick between its secured end's being longer than thevertical wall len'gth of said top member;

'7:.. A' vaporizer of the'wick type including in combinatiorra hollowcontainer having a supportingbaseand an open upper'end; a hollow'piston. member of the same iexterior'shape, as the interior shapeioffsaid container; adapted to slide up and down within said container withclea'rance REFERENCE-S CITED The following references are of record"inthe file ofthispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS" Number Name: Date 416,913. Hawk'es Dec. 10,1889926,961. Raforth July 6,1909

1,043,159 Sleeper Nov. 5,1912 1,485,711 Resek et-al: i Mar". 4, ,19242,403,880 raft. July 9, 1946'

